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16
The Story of Redemption
expel these also, and make such a void in heaven?” He then declared
that he was prepared to resist the authority of Christ and to defend
his place in heaven by force of might, strength against strength.
Good angels wept to hear the words of Satan and his exulting
boasts. God declared that the rebellious should remain in heaven no
longer. Their high and happy state had been held upon condition
of obedience to the law which God had given to govern the high
order of intelligences. But no provision had been made to save those
who should venture to transgress His law. Satan grew bold in his
rebellion, and expressed his contempt of the Creator’s law. This
Satan could not bear. He claimed that angels needed no law but
should be left free to follow their own will, which would ever guide
them right; that law was a restriction of their liberty; and that to
abolish law was one great object of his standing as he did. The
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condition of the angels, he thought, needed improvement. Not so
the mind of God, who had made laws and exalted them equal to
Himself. The happiness of the angelic host consisted in their perfect
obedience to law. Each had his special work assigned him, and until
Satan rebelled, there had been perfect order and harmonious action
in heaven.
Then there was war in heaven. The Son of God, the Prince of
heaven, and His loyal angels engaged in conflict with the archrebel
and those who united with him. The Son of God and true, loyal
angels prevailed; and Satan and his sympathizers were expelled from
heaven. All the heavenly host acknowledged and adored the God of
justice. Not a taint of rebellion was left in heaven. All was again
peaceful and harmonious as before. Angels in heaven mourned the
fate of those who had been their companions in happiness and bliss.
Their loss was felt in heaven.
The Father consulted His Son in regard to at once carrying out
their purpose to make man to inhabit the earth. He would place
man upon probation to test his loyalty before he could be rendered
eternally secure. If he endured the test wherewith God saw fit to
prove him, he should eventually be equal with the angels. He was
to have the favor of God, and he was to converse with angels, and
they with him. He did not see fit to place them beyond the power of
disobedience.
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